Starting with the right foundation is the most important step in my work, and I don’t just mean cosmetics.

When I work with a client, I want to find out who she is at her core. If I don’t know her essence, I can’t help her uncover her true beauty. One of the biggest clues to the source of a woman’s authentic beauty is getting to know what her favorite things are… what nourishes your soul. This is what forms our foundation.

I don’t talk liquid versus powder foundation until I understand a woman’s true foundation. If this sounds like a lot of work to uncover, it is . . . but it’s also a lot of fun. This is where the real you emerges! What feeds your soul? What nourishes your authentic self?

This is the process I take my clients through to uncover their foundation:

Exercise: Your Top-Ten List

Take out your journal, and write down the top ten things you love to do—even if you aren’t doing them right now. Don’t worry if you are thinking to yourself, “I don’t know,” or I have no idea,” that is normal. Typically, we can write a list of the top ten things off of our to-do lists.

As most women struggle to come up with more than three things, it can be very telling. We women nurture everyone and everything outside of ourselves but we haven’t made the connection between nurturing our spirits, feeling beautiful, and staying on course toward our dreams.

We’re like builders trying to frame a house without a solid foundation. Despite our efforts, our work just won’t hold up, eventually toppling over.

No one sees the foundation, but that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. Just like foundational garments or cosmetics, it’s the critical starting point. Others may not understand why you need to spend time doing something on your top-ten list, but they will notice as you grow stronger and more beautiful . . . all a result of nourishing your soul.

So, get going on your top-ten list! Remember to focus on what you love. Are you doing any of these things on a regular basis? If you aren’t, why not start now?

Set your intention by identifying a simple step you can take today. Then do it!

Keep in mind that if you always deny yourself the happiness you deserve, life seems so much harder. You feel down, and are less resilient and motivated.

So many women rely on medication, food, or alcohol to suppress the pain of a depleted spirit.

Do you ever wonder what kind of makeup, skincare, and beauty tools professional makeup artists use to make celebrities look their best for the big screen?

Women often ask me what kind of makeup I use as well as what skincare brands I recommend. Especially the women who sit in my chair and have their makeup done for TV, Film, or to appear on the cover of a major magazine. Once they see how good they look…they immediately want everything I put on their face.

The other question I receive, quite often, is “I’ve always wanted to learn how to be a makeup artist or beauty expert, how can I learn the tricks of the trade?”.

For over 20 years, I have purchased the majority of my professional makeup from a family owned business called Alcone, based in NYC. Alcone has been around since 1952 providing professional makeup for the stage and film industry.

Through the years, Alcone received tons of calls from celebrities and clients of professional makeup artists wanting to purchase their makeup…so they decided to create a company called Limelife by Alcone.

When they started LimeLife, their intention was simple…they wanted to share the beauty secrets their family had acquired over 65 years in the professional makeup industry.

They soon realized the their products did more than improve complexions and enhance natural beauty…they had a significant impact on confidence. So, they decide to create a way to help others start their own beauty business using professional products. The outcome…they are going gangbusters!

I share this with you just in case you or someone you know is interested in breaking into the business. If so, this is a great place to start.

As a professional working in the beauty industry for over 30 years, I can honestly say, it’s truly a gift to help women feel better about themselves. To build their confidence. When a woman feels better about herself, she has a better life overall… and that is the mission of Limelife by Alcone.

Empowering women to feel confident in who they are and help others do the same.

Are you looking for unique gift ideas for the beauty and style lover on your list? Here are a few of my favorites ideas, and trust me, you’ll want to add every one of these to your wish list too!

DG2 Jeans

Finding a pair of Jeans that fit well is almost impossible. My favorite designer jeans not only make you look amazing…you will feel amazing when wearing them!

Designer Diane Gilman created DG2 jeans to cater to the specific concerns of women whose bodies have changed because of having kids and even aging. Her jeans offer much more generous waist measurements while still keeping the legs of the jean slim & formfitting… knowing as females, we put all our middle-aged weight around the waist, tummy & midriff!

Diane is known a the “Queen of Jeans” as she has sold over 10 million pairs of DG2 jeans on HSN!

Most of us have a love of high heels, yet most of the time, they are uncomfortable!

The reason heels hurt is because when you are in any kind of shoe that has elevation or a heel, your weight gets shifted forward to the ball of the foot. The higher the heel, the more weight and pressure get shifted forward.

Vivian Lou insoles shift weight off the ball of the foot to the heel and prevent the foot from slipping forward. This reduces pressure on the ball of the foot and stop the cause of pain.

Bonus… They are impossible to see in open-toe + open-back shoes.

Place Vivian Lou Insoles in your stilettos, wedges, sandals, boots and clogs! Your feet, back, knees, hips and ankles will thank you! Now you can wear high heels 4x longer.

GemTye is coolest bracelet you will ever put in your hair! Gemtye is the only hair tie that one of a kind fashion accessory that fuses together the function of your favorite hair tie that is also a chic bracelet!

Whether you’re getting ready for your favorite yoga class or you’re matching a purse and stilettos…GemTye has you covered.

They offer different styles and colors that look great on every skin tone and hair types.

You can now leave the house with something that feels good on your wrist, works in your hair and always looks great. No more sad hair ties on your wrist! The perfect gift for the fashionable multi-tasker!

A revolutionary earring back that gives your earring an instant lift! Levears provide the support you need so your earrings will sit upright, feel secure and look beautiful.

From heavy studs to oversized chandeliers, now you can wear any type of post earring, regardless of weight, without the fear of a sagging earlobe.

The Levears Earring Lifts have a patented design that has a left and right back. This ensures that the women’s earrings can be adjusted to look perfect since no two holes are pierced the same. Levears is designed to be light and airy without adding any extra weight on the back, which of course no one wants.

As a celebrity makeup artist, this is my go-to for every client before I do their makeup. DK&T Lip Scrub brush is the world’s first exfoliating lip and beauty brush.

The Lip Scrub Brush, in my opinion, is a non-surgical lip plumper that gets rid of dry, flakey, chapped lips. The dual action scrub brush is made with all natural bristles, it’s cruelty free and vegan friendly. The bristles stimulate blood flow to the surface of the lips giving you a healthy, plump, rosy lip as well as dead skin is gone.

After using the brush, I apply an almond or coconut oil and your lips look gorgeous as is or apply lipstick that will look beautiful and last longer.

Recently a friend of mine suggested I try DG2 jeans. She promised me that once I do, I will be addicted to how they look on as well as how great they feel when wearing them.

I was certainly a skeptic but decided to give them a try. I may look small but since having three kids… jeans don’t typically fit well. Either they are too tight or too loose, or gap in the back when I sit. The list of issues I have when wearing jeans is endless. Until now…

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year! Spending precious time with friends and family, reflecting on what I am grateful for, and time to put up the Christmas tree! It’s also the time of year when I can easily begin to feel stressed out and overwhelmed. With all that I already have on my plate, add the Holiday hustle bustle and my schedule can go from busy to out of whack in a flash! Continue reading “Are You Spinning or Twirling?”→